"It is too late. The set increase, or the lack of increase, was predetermined six months ago," said Marzullo, a vocal critic of spending guidelines a divided BET adopted in a Nov. 19 straight party line vote, with Republican Chairman Michael Mason casting a second, deciding vote to break a 6-6 deadlock. Those guidelines were first approved by the four-person Budget Committee.

The draft guidelines called for town operating costs to be capped at a 2 percent increase for the next fiscal year.

Based on those parameters, the property tax rate would increase by 2.5 percent. Last year, the mill rate increased by 2.75 percent.

It was in front of the Budget Committee Monday that First Selectman Peter Tesei unveiled the proposed $381.9 million 2013-14 general fund budget, a 3.86 percent increase over this fiscal year. He said this budget will see a 2.96 percent mill rate increase.

The mill rate is the amount of tax paid per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current mill rate for homeowners on the town sewer system is 11.001. That would mean the owner of a home assessed at $1 million would pay a property tax of $11,001.

In addition to the budget unveiled by Tesei, the Representative Town Meeting will also vote on a budget figure that includes borrowings. Last year marked the first time the budget cracked $400 million, as the RTM approved a $404 million budget. Property owners are taxed on the general fund budget.

This year the tentative total budget the RTM will vote on is $426 million.

The BET at its March 21 meeting will vote on the budget, two days after it holds a public hearing; the Representative Town Meeting will vote on the budget at its May meeting.

The BET can increase or decrease spending items in the budget. The RTM cannot add to the budget, but it does have the power to remove items.

Marzullo has continually criticized the BET spending guidelines as binding town departments to meet that target.

"A guideline that should have been just that -- a guideline -- was interpreted as an order," he said.

Blankley agrees with the contention that the guidelines were too restrictive, saying more money should be allocated to the school district. He said the BET still has the opportunity to add money back to the budget.

Blankley said he was disappointed the school district budget was trimmed by $1.1 million from the original $143.2 million budget crafted by schools Superintendent William McKersie in November. McKersie presented a $142.01 million proposed budget to the Budget Committee Monday.

"If we continue to constrain the school system, this is a slow throttling of the public school system," Blankley said. "In my view, they should have just gone ahead and say `Sorry this is what we need in our school system.' "

He said administrative cuts announced by McKersie last month, including eliminating an arts coordinator position, were "disheartening."

Mason said changes can be made to the budget before it goes to the RTM, but that depends on the town being able to afford them.

"That conversation is valid, but only valid if the town is in a position where we can commit to these projects," he said.

He did question the impetus for the position advocated by Blankley.

"There is a push, and I think it is more of a political issue, instead of a real issue," Mason said.

Marzullo reached across the political aisle to praise Tesei's budget.

"Peter put forth a responsible budget under the parameters set by the majority," Marzullo said.